in the State, to drink either potent Wine, or any other strong Liquor, to excefs; to disguise your felf, to uncrown your Head, or unking your Perfon, by Ebriety: Which infatuates the Understanding, lets loofe all the Passions like Furies, and makes the whole Body faulter, either into the most unaccountable Omiffions of Duty, or umanly Commiffions of Folly and Offence. And, in fhort, nothing can give a greater Scandal, Deteftation or Diftafte to the. World, than the fordid Sin of Drunkenness. HOWEVER, by the By, fome Hyper-Criticks extend this Admonition to the Drinking of no Wine, or any other reviving Liquids at all; which is a ridiculous Notion at beft, and manifeftly inconfiftent with common Reafon: As if Princes, and other great Men, were oblig'd to drink nothing but Water or Small-Beer, by a melancholy Argument, wire-drawn from their own over-fcrupulous Spleen. But it is certain, that all Excess is ftriatly forbidden by it; as dangerous, furious, and outragious in its Confequences: Efpecially among Kings, Councellors and Nobles; for if they cannot govern themselves in this Refpect, how fhould they govern others in Matters of greater Moment, with common Discretion? And fo there muft be an End of this Hypocondriack Controversy; let the Liquor be what it will they drink to Extravagance, or to any Degree of confounding good Counsel, Government and Wisdom. I. TEMPERACE feems to be fuch a Sovereign Virtue, that nothing can more become a crown'd Head, with Submiffion. I do not fay, that this ferious Leffon was calculated for the Institution of Kings alone, or reftrained to the fole Qualification of Noblemen: As if they were under greater greater Obligations to be foberer than other Folks, or feverer in their Mortifications. But can there be a more precious or valuable Jewel in a Diadem, than this fhining Virtue is in the Heart of a Prince? It dignifies the very Regalia, he wears at his Coronation, without a fhaking Hand. It recommends his Perfon, confirms his Parts, and extends his Power. It does not only rectify, but refine all his corporeal Pleafures, and fenfual Delights, that arife either from the Taste or the Touch, by the jufteft Restrictions of right Reason, Honour and Neceffity. It regulates both his Drink and his Diet, by an abfolute Averfion against all Artificial Dainties, or fuperfluous Varieties. It gives him Health and Long-Life, by abstaining from furfeiting Delicacies. It makes him ftand in Defiance of any Distempers or Indifpofitions. By moderate Eating, he fupports the Strength of his Body, invigorates the Spirits, attenuates the Humours, prevents Obftructions, difperfes Crudities, fubdues Infirmities, and preferves the Senfes in their Integrity, the Affections in their Purity, as well as the Stomach in its due Tone of Appetite and Digeftion, for the requifite Offices and Bufinefs of the Day. By moderate Drinking, he restores decay'd Nature, enlivens the dull Mind, revives the drooping Faculties, fortifies the weak Stomach, ftrengthens the vital Heat, helps the heavy Concoction, diffufes the neceffary Food, chears up the fainting Heart, and wonderfully refreshes the animal Spirits; for their proper Operations of Vigour and Activity. Infomuch that his rare Abftemiousness fets forth a glorious Examples both of Inftruction and Imitation, from the fupreme Head to the very Foot of the People: Even to all the little Tiplers, famous Topers, and infamous Drunkards about the Kingdom; which ought to have a better Effect upon their neglected Reformation of Manners. And, in my humble Opinion, it is alone fufficient to crown a Nation with Profperity and Plenty, Peace and Quietnefs, Obedience and good Neighbourhood, in a great Measure. For what was it made the old Thracians, Caridians, Ægyptians, Chinefes, Japanefes, with many other Countries, fo longliv'd, healthful and famous in Hiftory, but their fingular Temperance and Sobriety? Before the Flood, our Fore-Fathers did not wallow in flowing Bowls, or Inundations of Wine; nor filly-out into fuperfluities of unneceffary Food, either of Flefh, Fowl, or Fith. The Antediluvians liv'd most upon Lentils or Leguminous Fare. The noted Pultifagi, among the Romans, fed more upon Pulfe and Herbs, than we do upon grofs Beef and heavy Pudding. The Turks now chiefly feed upon Roots, Rice and Fruits, rather than unhealthful Ragoo's and fawcy Vi&uals. Simple Meats and fmall Drinks, are to the Hungry most pleasant; and to the Thirsty, most agreeable in Nature. How fweet was a Cup of cold Water once to Darius in Extremity; and how lufcious was a Bit of Barley-Bread to Artaxerxes, in a difficult Streight of real Want? Plato thought it a monstrous Thing in Dionyfius, to fee him eat Twice in a Day; to dine once at Noon, and fup afterwards at Night. But we daily multiply our fet Entertainments into cloying Surfeits, fqueamish Atrophies, and the foureft Sorrows. I wish I could not fay it with fome Reafon; we English are the greatest Flesh-Pots of Europe, Afia, Africa and America; next to the Anthropophagers or Canibals. Confi der der Tiberius's excellent Aphorifm; and a Man ought to take his Meat and Drink, as he does Phyfick, meerly for Health's Sake: To the Goodness of which Prescription, Length of Days fets an undeniable Probatum, as well as it gives a general Approbation by Experience. Obferve Cato's wife Precept; and we nuft not live to eat, but eat only to live according to the best Rules of Moderation. Let the Ancients be our Judges, and we Moderns ought to live temperately in all Refpects, either as to Solid or Liquid Nourishment. IN fhort, Temperance, either in Diet or Drinking, muft needs be allow'd to be one of the noble ft Qualifications of any Perfons educated for the Pulpit, or brought up to the Bar; being neceffary both for their preaching devoutly, and pleading elegantly, upon Occation: In order to diharge thofe great Duties, as well as good Offices either in Church or state effeAually, with the publick Applaufe, Efteem, and Veneration of their refpe&ive Auditors. The young Divire who is endud with it, feldom or never fails of tudying hard, reading much, and ac-* complishing hinfelf with the best Ornaments of incomparable Wit, fine Language, and admirable Learning. His Head is always cool; his Heart, warm; his Mind. ferene; his Judgment, fedate; his Faculties, unclouded; and all his Thoughts, flowing into the most exquifite Performances of the Pen and the Tongue. This healthful Virtue does not only furnish him out with the brighteft Idea's of Things, and the foundeft Notions of Divinity; but it alf highly conduces to his good Character in the World, gains him an univerfal Reputation, as well as an abfolute Credit to his pious Hara gues, and induces the Hearers to put an entire Confidence in his Veracity. racity. It makes them believe, that he is feriously in earnest with the facred Duties of his Function, when they fee his Practice as good as his Precept; and wonderfully perfwades them at laft, not only to approve of his Sincerity, but also of the fober Doctrines he advances against any popular Vices, favourite Sins, or fafhionable Intemperances of humane Life, in his Difcourfe. Henceforwards his Preaching of Abftinence to his People, will very much redound, both to their great Edification, and his own Praife. It will advance the Honour, and Recommendation of him to their most folemn Regard for his Reverend Behaviour among his well-pleas'd and much oblig'd Audience. Upon this, every Soul in his Congregation will rife up, and really revere him as a faithful Paftor of his indeared Flock. In fine, it is likewife the readieft Way to Preferment; either to make him a Bishop in a little Time, or a Dignitary in the Church, for his inftru&tive Excellencies and edifying Example. The young Lawyer alfo, either Civil or Common, is as much oblig'd to this golden Virtue of Temperance, as the Divine; and may as foon make his Fortune by it. Well may he indulge it, and make much of it in his Chamber, when he finds fo good an Account of it among his numerous Clients, and it brings him infinite Business, either for his learned Counsel at Home, or his judicious pleading at the Bar: Upon being fo remarkably well known for his excellent Endowments of good Temper, a great Presence of Mind, and the most diftinguishing Faculty of reasoning upon any difficult Point, or intricate Affair of the Law: Temperance keeps his Judgment steady, and free from all Foreign Amuse |